Bikers Against Child Abuse founder leaves legacy of helping vulnerable kids
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- Pleasant Grove resident JP Lilly, a respected child therapist and founder of Bikers Against Child Abuse, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 20, 2024.
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- This undated photo shows JP Lilly and his wife, Lisa, of Pleasant Grove. JP Lilly died unexpectedly Thursday, June 20, 2024, leaving behind his wife and seven children.
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- Pleasant Grove resident JP Lilly, a respected child therapist and founder of Bikers Against Child Abuse, died unexpectedly Thursday, June 20, 2024.
John Paul Lilly, also known as “JP” and “Chief,” founder of Bikers Against Child Abuse and a respected child play therapist, passed away suddenly June 20, leaving behind a legacy of helping those most vulnerable: children.
His unexpected medical event has left his family, the international BACA organization, former and current patients, fellow bikers, neighbors in his Pleasant Grove community and friends missing him and his many contributions.
“I met Chief years ago after being introduced to the organization he founded, Bikers Against Child Abuse, and we became friends and brothers. An incredible husband, father and loyal friend to so many. A truly gifted play therapist whose life mission was to help and heal kids who had been abused and hurt. Chief, you have changed thousands of lives and your legacy will live on in the people you have helped, their kids and for future generations because of your work,” reads a post on the JP “Chief” Lilly Memorial Facebook page.
“This one hits hard. JP was first my therapist when my kids disclosed abuse by my next-door neighbor. He quickly became my friend and brother,” reads another.
“He wanted to start ‘Bikers Against Child Abuse’ because, as a therapist, he would see children start to heal while in therapy sessions with him, but they would really slide back when they would be in their usual environment and sometimes being exposed to the person abusing them,” said Lisa Lilly, JP’s wife. “So, he wanted there to be a way that strong, protective people could make a presence in the child’s neighborhood to give them that extra support when they weren’t in his office. He also wanted there to be supportive people who could attend court with the children, as sometimes their family members were witnesses and could not be there on their behalf.”
Because of his commitment to helping children, he founded BACA in 1995 in Utah. The organization is now worldwide. “We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse,” it reads, in part, on BACA’s website, bacaworld.org.
Lisa Lilly said her husband took the road name “Chief ” when he started BACA. “I think it’s an amalgamation of a representation of his Native American heritage and his being the founder and leader of BACA,” she said.
JP Lilly also helped numerous children as a licensed clinical social worker and play therapist in Provo. He taught play therapy at Brigham Young University for 18 years and is considered an expert in the field of Jungian analytical play therapy.
“I started seeing JP when I was 17. Convinced I was beyond fixing. Convinced it was only a matter of time before I took my own life. He saved my life. How many of us have repeated those same words? What a profound impact one man had on so many that so many can say those words and they are completely true. He was my therapist, my life raft for 16 years. He never once gave up on me. He never let me give up on myself,” reads a post on his memorial page from a former patient.
“He was very passionate about helping children. When it came to choosing a career, that’s the direction he went,” Lisa Lilly said. “It was amazing, when BACA got really rolling, to find out how many BACA members had also suffered abuse as children and they just really wanted to help other children through it.”
JP and Lisa Lilly are the parents of seven children. In addition to his work with children, he was very involved in his neighborhood and church community. Funeral services will be held July 6 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1176 N. 730 East, Pleasant Grove. A viewing will be held from 9:30-11 a.m., with the funeral service beginning at 11:30 a.m.
A GoFundMe crowdfunding account has been established by friends to help the family with unexpected funeral expenses and the economic transition, as JP Lilly was the main provider for his family.
